Not much new to report.  Cutler continues to please the doctors with his progress.  Thanks to the steroids his mucisitis seems to have cut back.  He still has a lot of slobber/mucus, but is not choking and vomiting it the way he was before.  The doctors do plan on tapering him off the steroids over the next few days and potentially the pain meds as well.  He isn’t on a high dose of the pain meds as it is, so it will be a quick road off of them.  His blood tests have shown 200 white cells the past two days, but this is virtually zero and could possibly drop to zero again without concerning the doctors.  Dr Lenarski did mention that this could be a sign that the transplanted cells are starting to grow, but we still won’t know more for another week or two.

Tonight when I got here he was in a great mood and showed a lot of the old playful Cutler from pre chemo times, but does tire quicker than before.  This doesn’t alarm us at all considering all of the medicine he takes and the fact that he isn’t eating.  I am sure the TPN bag gives him the necessary nutrients, but probably doesn’t give him the energy that his bottles used to.  The one thing new that he has started to do is give a really good strong hug.  I am not sure if it is what he intends to do, but he is quick to grab on and lay his head on my shoulder and just squeeze.  For now I will believe that he knows he is giving his dad a bear hug.

Big day tomorrow for Mason and I as he has his second indoor soccer game of the season and then we have a Stars game at 2 and then back to the hospital for me.  Plan on bringing Mason up here with me so that he can see Cutler through the window.  We haven’t told him yet, but I am looking forward to the excitement and unfortunately the disappointment when he sees that there isn’t a play room like there was in the other building.  🙂 

By the way, here is a link to Lucas’s web site for updates.  He is Cutler’s “cancer twin”.  He has been through a much rougher road than Cutler, but it looks like the transplant was a success as they did a test on the blood and his new cells are from the transplanted cells and he is leukemia free.  His biggest obstacle to get home now is starting to eat again.  Please continue to keep him in your prayers.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/lucasgebert

Was just looking through photos from my mother’s camera and stumbled upon this one.  Cutler is ready to start his modeling career.  🙂

Yesterday was quite the fun and busy day for Mason.  In the morning Mason and Melanie met Santa for breakfast as I was training the newest employee at the hospital…Grammy.  Once I got home and showered up, Mason was already revved up and ready to go.  At the Northpark Mall there is a Santa that has been there for the past 15 years and has had quite the following.  We got there around 11 am and received number 165.  Imagine my dismay as I looked at the number “now serving” screen that was set at 18.  The line manager told me to come back around 3 pm and our number should be ready. 

At that point I was thinking there was no way to waste four hours with a four-year old in the mall and so the picture wouldn’t happen.  So we wandered away and found a small orchestra playing away and Mason was more than happy to stand and watch for an endless amount of time.  In fact, it was me that was ready to go and find something to eat.  On our way to the food court we stumbled upon the movie theater and decided a lunch of popcorn and pizza at the movies was in order so we sat down and enjoyed the Princess and the Frog.  Pretty cute movie with great jazz music, that Mason was quick to dance to…I think he definitely got the desire to dance from his mom…at least dancing sober that is.

So by the time the movie was out it was around 2:30 and we headed back to Santa to find that they were only up to number 88.  This Santa is one popular dude.  Anyway, after hanging around and chatting up the line manager we some how finagled our way into the line and by 3:00, we had our picture with Santa.  No flirting required on my part and no need to pull the “cancer card” either.  Just pure goodness of the line manager.  The holiday seasons are alive and well!

The rest of the day was spent building a couple of lego guys at the lego store, buying some new shirts and sweaters for Mason and then just wandering aimlessly as two guys are known to do.  It was a great time to spend all of this time with Mason and the only thing that would have made it better is if baby brother was there to slow us down.  Definitely next year!